The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are under a new regime with the hiring of head coach Bruce Arians. The team has some holes to fill, and the 2019 free agent class has a plethora of players that would benefit the Buccaneers. The offensive line, secondary, and the linebackers are what the Buccaneers should focus on this off-season. The team needs to get the defensive side of the ball back to the glory days of Sapp, Brooks, Barber, and Lynch.

We will take look at the most convenient options at positions offered. This does not mean that the current roster isn’t good enough to get the job done, but these free agents could help put the Buccaneers over the hump. Let’s begin with the offensive line. This seems to be a hot topic for most Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans want to be addressed. Kevin Pamphile (Ten) and D.J. Fluker (Sea) would be great fits with the Buccaneers.

Kevin Pamphile has roots with the Buccaneers. He spent 2014-2018 in Tampa Bay, where he began his career as a tight end. In 2016-2017 he went full time as a guard/tackle for the Buccaneers. He played in 14 games and 16 games in his first two seasons as an offensive lineman. He is 6’5 and tips the scales at 315 pounds. He spent last season with the Tennessee Titans protecting number two pick in the 2015 NFL Draft: Marcus Mariota. He played in three games and started two games. He would beef up and add some needed insurance to a key position the tackle position.

The next offensive lineman that could be an option for the Bucs is the Seattle Seahawks Guard, D.J. Fluker. He has bounced around the NFL, landing in San Diego, New York, and Seattle. Fluker is 6’5 and 342 pounds. He has been incredibly durable at a position that sees a ton of injuries. Fluker has only played in single digit games one time in his career. That was in 2017 with the Giants. The last name on the list is New Orleans Saints tackle Jermon Bushrod. He is a little more seasoned than the previous two names, but he has a championship pedigree. He started with the Saints in 2007. After the 2012 season, Bushrod went to the Bears. He made a quick stop in Miami before ultimately landing back with the Saints. What a better free agent signing than stealing one of Drew Brees’ protectors. These three offensive linemen may not be the names Buccaneers fans want to hear, but we should definitely look at trying to sign them for insurance or to start.

Next, let’s look at the linebackers/ defensive ends. The first thing fans want to see is the Buccaneers bring back Kwon Alexander. There are two names out on the free agent market that would be great fits for Todd Bowles defense. Miami Dolphins Cameron Wake and Los Angeles Rams Dante Fowler Jr. The Buccaneers have made it very public they will scheme their defense around their players’ strengths. If they could land Alexander and Cameron Wake, the defense would be elite once again. Cameron Wake is an absolute stud. Wake is 6’3 and weighs 263 pounds. He is like Kwon Alexander and LaVonte David. He is a tackling machine. Last season he racked up 6 sacks and 21 solo tackles. He is about the only good defensive player for the Dolphins. Wake’s had five seasons with double-digit sacks. The only problem with Wake is he will be entering his 11th season and is 37-years old. Now, Dante Fowler Jr. spent the majority of the 2018 season with the LA Rams. He was traded by the Jacksonville Jaguars. In three seasons, Fowler has 16 sacks, 83 combined tackles, and 64 solo tackles. He is another genetic freak on the field standing 6’3, 255 pounds.

Lastly, the secondary needs some major help. We have plenty of youth in the back half of the defense, and the new coaching staff may want to just develop that talent. There are two names that pop out to me that could help develop that secondary into a powerhouse of the NFC South. No, I am not talking about Earl Thomas, although I would like to see him in pewter, but Landon Collins and Bryce Callahan are great free agents for the Buccaneers. The New York Giants were shopping Landon Collins in the 2018 season, and the Buccaneers were linked to him. Now is the time to pounce and get him to Tampa Bay. The 6’0, 218-pound enforcer was a standout in New York. In his career, Collins has 8 interceptions, 428 combined tackles, and 321 solo tackles. Collins has only missed five games in his short career. The Buccaneers need a safety that puts fear into the opposing wide receivers. Collins would instantly become a fan favorite in Tampa. Bryce Callahan has played in double-digit for the Bears the past 3 seasons. The Bears do not want to see Callahan hit free agency because he is a talent that is going to get paid. He will help these young guys get better each week. Callahan has been pushed by former Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. He would make a nice compliment to other players in the secondary.

Some of you may disagree with the names on this list, but I believe that financially they make sense for the Buccaneers. We could get impact players at a discounted price and this could be what makes Tampa the favorite in the NFC South. We have to create pressure, but be able to play man to man on these talented wide receivers. Let’s be insightful and excited for the 2019 season because ownership, management, and the coaching staff have us heading in the right direction. Keep an eye on breaking news from Bucs Life News and All Things Bucs.

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One of the main areas of concern that needs to be addressed this offseason is the secondary.

Last year Jason Licht tried to get the secondary some help by drafting defensive backs Carlton Davis, M.J. Stewart, and safety Jordan Whitehead.

They are all young players, who show tons of promise and have the prospect of potentially becoming outstanding players.

The aforementioned players went through what is known as ‘trial by fire’ having to play right away due to Chris Conte and Vernon Hargreaves both suffering season-ending injuries early on. They played rather well considering.

However, the Bucs could benefit from the addition of veteran defensive backs with several years of experience. Brent Grimes is likely at the end of his career and how it seems, may not return to the Buccaneers next season.

Vernon Hargreaves will be returning to the line up next season, but in my opinion, lacks the veteran leadership skills necessary to lead these young defensive backs.

However, when it comes to the need of a proven veteran defensive back, why not look at any of those that Bruce Arians had a previous connection with?

Enter Tyrann Mathieu or possibly Patrick Peterson.

As far fetched as it sounds, there is no doubt in my mind that Arians would love to have his former secondary standouts come in and lead these young DBs in their development. They could take Tampa’s secondary from one of the worst to one of the best.

With cap space being an issue, and the fact they both wish to stick with their current teams definitely stands in the way, but there is no doubt that they would definitely help our secondary succeed.

With Peterson under contract for the next few years, Tampa would have to make a blockbuster trade in order to get him, and Tyrann Mathieu had expressed that he wishes to remain on the Texans. But this is Bruce Arians, and in my opinion, the sky’s the limit as to what can be accomplished.

The need for veteran leadership on the secondary is CRITICAL and we need to pursue that at all costs.

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It’s no secret that DeSean Jackson’s time in Tampa has been rocky for everyone. Jackson was highly desired when he entered free agency in 2017, and the Buccaneers signed him to a $33m/3 year deal. He was believed to be the deep threat the Buccaneers offense was missing averaging 17.9 YPC. Jameis Winston and Mike Evans had hands in recruiting DeSean to Tampa, but that was about as far their chemistry went. Despite drills run by Winston and Jackson in the off-season of 2018 to help develop a link, the two never built chemistry on the field. That lack of chemistry eventually led to rumors of confrontations in the locker room. Jackson requested a trade before the season’s trade deadline.

It was also reported by CBS Sports that Jackson was fined extensively for being late to meetings and falling asleep. After being inactive with a thumb injury in week 17, it was all but set in stone that both Jackson and the Buccaneers were moving on. That was until Bruce Arians came in. Ian Rapoport reported to GMFB: “What BA wants to do is keep him there and convince him that DeSean Jackson can be a big part of the offense with Arians now,” Rapoport said. “This discussion will be all about how Jameis Winston can find Jackson in this offense. If Bruce Arians can get that done, then DeSean Jackson stays.”

So, can Arians bring DeSean Jackson back to the team? Arians has a high reputation among players and coaches, so If anyone were to be able to get him back to the team with a minimal fight being put up, it would be Bruce Arians. Having a deep threat like Jackson running behind defenses will really open up the passing game, especially if Winston can find a way to link up with him like they’ve both wanted.

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If any coach out there is going to be able to mold Jameis Winston into an elite level NFL quarterback, it’s Bruce Arians. Arians has worked with some very talented QB’s in the past, including Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, Carson Palmer, and Andrew Luck, having a great deal of success with all of them. Arians is known as “the quarterback whisperer.”

Most Bucs fans are aware of Winston’s turnover struggles so far in his first four years as the Buccaneers starting quarterback. In fact, there were several times throughout the 2018 season where legitimate questions about whether or not Winston would return to the Bucs in 2019, or if the front office would decide to go in another direction. Obviously, turnovers can really hurt a team’s chance to win, especially when a team commits too many. In certain games, Winston would turn the ball over multiple times, whether it’s multiple interceptions or fumbles. Granted, not all of his recorded turnovers have been solely his fault, but certainly, many of them are. There were also a few times where Winston played very well during the 2018 season. Those questions and rumors about whether or not Winston would return to the Bucs in 2019 have been squashed thanks to Bruce Arians.

It sounds to me like the first goal is to try to limit Winston’s turnovers to only one per game. Hopefully, he doesn’t turn the ball over at all. Like Arians pointed out, some of Winston’s turnovers result from him trying to be a hero and make something out a broken play when there is nothing there.

Drew Stanton, who also played for Arians with the Arizona Cardinals, compliments Winston’s ability, but also sees how he can improve. Stanton is quoted by Jenna Laine of ESPN as saying, “There are times where you have to pick and choose your battles at this position. It’s OK to throw the ball away. It’s OK to hit a check down and do all those things and not take those chances in the first half,” Stanton told ESPN. “I think B.A. respects the quarterback position enough to give you that leniency once he kind of instills all those values. He can do everything you need a franchise quarterback to do,” Stanton said of Winston. “I’ve watched enough film of him to believe that. It’s just a matter of fine-tuning that stuff. He has all those intangibles you look for, and he can do all those things. Part of the reason B.A. took the job is because of who he has in place at that position.”

Arians has stated previously that this team is going to be built around Jameis Winston and Arians has also said he believes Winston has what it takes to win it all and that the Bucs have the core to win now.

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